The Lions Den Hotel, established in 1875, is a landmark hotel made of timber and iron, famous for its quirky decorations and walls adorned with visitor’s signatures. Set on the lush banks of the Little Annan River, surrounded by 100 year old mango trees and tropical landscapes the Den is the perfect place to visit the ‘real’ Australia.

Although as early as 1939 Australia was ranked 7th in terms of telephony traffic, Cape York was still very much disadvantaged in this regard, with mail being delivered by pack horse until after the end of the Second World War. It was only in 1987 that the construction of microwave telecommunications links allowed residents throughout Cape York to at last be able to communicate via dial telephones.

Cape York Peninsula is noted for the strong, rich culture of the Aboriginal people and their Islander neighbours of the Torres Strait. Vibrant and diverse, this region offers opportunities to absorb and connect with the ancient rhythms of this ancient land and people.

Little happened after Cooks initial landing until William Hann set out on his overland journey of exploration in 1872. The discovery of payable alluvial gold deposits at the Palmer river in 1873 by James Venture Mulligan, sparked a huge gold rush, drawing prospectors not only from Australia, but also from around the world.

The Cooktown cemetery is the final resting place for people of many nationalities, religions and cultures that lived in this remote pioneering town. The stories that unfold within its boundaries bear witness to the tragedies, triumphs and mysteries experienced by the people in the times of the gold rush era, and early settlement of the township.